If you are planning to attend a DIY artificial pancreas build event, depending on which system you wish to build you will need to have the appropriate hardware and have read through and familiarised yourself with the instructions on how to create the loop.
You should also bring an appropriate computer with you to get your loop running on, and be familiar with how to interact with it in order to undertake maintenance in the future.
Pumps
OpenAPS/Loop
For both Loop and OpenAPS, a compatible pump comes from the list below:
- 515/715 (all firmware)
- 522/722 (all firmware)
- 523/723 (with firmware 2.4A or lower)
- 554/754 (European Veo, with firmware 2.6A or lower; OR Canadian Veo with firmware 2.7A or lower)
- OmniPod (Loop only)
A double-check for pump compatibility is to look for the ABSENCE of PC connect in the pump menu. Press the ACT button, scroll down to the “Utilities” menu, and within the “Connect Devices” menu and look for a PC Connect option. If that is present, the pump will NOT work for looping. If it’s absent, the pump should be able to receive temp basal commands and be compatible.
If you have one of the above mentioned pumps, but it has buttons that do not work, use the instructions found on this Imgur photo album to repair your pump. This repair is quite straight-forward and easy.
AndroidAPS
For AndroidAPS, you have a choice of using either a DanaR, DanaRS pump, a Roche Accu-Chek Spirit Combo, Roch Accu-Chek Insight, old Medtronic pump, as per the above, OmniPod using the OmniPy or OmniCore options, or running it Open Loop, which means that it will provide you with instructions as to how to change your pump basal rate.
CGM
Compatible CGM systems are:
- Dexcom G4 Platinum System (with or without Share)
- Dexcom G5 Mobile
- Dexcom G6
- Medtronic (MiniMed Paradigm REAL-Time Revel or Enlite)
- Libre with a CGM converter using xDrip+ – Note that this has no noise monitoring so use with SMB functionality in OpenAPS or AndroidAPS is limited and we do not recommend this set-up for looping
- Libre2 with the patched LibreLink app
Note that the Medtronic 640G with Guardian transmitter does not work directly with any of these loops. If that is the system you need to use for CGM, you will need to use the 6-up uploader and Nightscout.
Before the event…
Prior to arriving at the event, if you haven’t already, you should try and set up NightScout. It provides a useful data repository for running various reports, and with some looping set-ups it is the source of glucose data. The instructions here are equally valid for all loop types.
Preparation
Ahead of setting up your loop, follow these instructions for getting familiar with the older medtronic pumps and collecting data that you can use to tune what you’ll use in the loop.
System Specific Requirements
Each individual looping system has its own set of specific requirements. You will need to ensure that you have these purchased and with you to get yourself going.
Loop
To set up Loop you will need the following:
- A Rileylink – https://getrileylink.org/
- A compatible computer (see here)
- An Apple Developer account (details here)
- An iPhone running iOS 12 or 13
Please also familiarise yourself with the loop documents.
OpenAPS
To set up OpenAPS you will need either of the following:
- Pi0WH Rig with Explorer Hat
- Edison Rig with Explorer Board
- Both systems require a battery that can be sourced from: (https://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/en/lithium-polymer-battery-2000mah.html or similar)
- A PC or MAC and you’ll have followed these Prep Steps in order to be able to connect to your rig. If you have purchased a preflashed Edison, you will not need to redo the flashing steps:
- On a Mac you’ll need to install the following: http://openaps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/docs/Resources/Edison-Flashing/mac-flash.html#preparing-flashing-the-edison
- On a PC you’ll need to follow these instructions: http://openaps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/docs/Resources/Edison-Flashing/all-computers-flash.html
- 2 USB cables
Please also familiarise yourself with the documents: https://openaps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html
AndroidAPS
To set up AndroidAPS you will need the following:
- A compatible Android Phone (list)
- Any of the listed pumps
- Download Android Studio to your laptop, open it and ensure it has all the recommended updates (except Gradle).
https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html - Download Git to your laptop.
https://git-scm.com/download/win - Download the AndroidAPS repository using Github – and detailed explanation is available in the docs: https://androidaps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/EN/Installing-AndroidAPS/Building-APK.html
- Update your Nightscout to the latest version if not already done:
http://www.nightscout.info/wiki/welcome/how-to-update-to-latest-cgm-remote-monitor-aka-cookie - Download the latest uploader app to your phone for your CGM source.
- If you want to use Omnipod with AAPS, you’ll need to check out the following links, but it’s worth being aware that this is a liottle more involved:
- OmniPy: https://github.com/winemug/omnipy
- OmniCore (beta code): https://github.com/winemug/omnicore
Have a read through of the AndroidAPS wiki so you have a feel for the steps you’ll work through:
https://androidaps.readthedocs.io/en/latest/EN/index.html